Are vacuum tubes still available?
Current audio vacuum tube production is still largely limited to 3 locations: China, Russia and the Czech and Slovak Republics. While many other developed nations still produce and develop vacuum based electronics, only Japan and Germany have produced glass vacuum tubes suitable for audio recently.
How long do vacuum tubes last?
Tubes don’t just “quit” suddenly. They lose their drive capability gradually with use. Small signal tubes like a 12AX7 or 6922 will work well on average for about 10,000 hours. If you leave your equipment on 24 hours a day, well you do the math: There are 8,760 hours in a year.
Are Chinese vacuum tubes any good?
Modern Chinese Vacuum Tube Amps can be very good but are restricted by the cheap mass market valves that are produced purely for consistency and cost restraints. Chinese Tubes such as 6J1, for instance are a direct copy and hence a direct equivalent of Russian 6J1P etc, etc.
What do you do with old vacuum tubes?
Contact the Global Electronics Recycling Network. This group maintains a network of electronic recycling organizations in many countries. Use its website to locate an electronics recycling organization near your home; you can find out the drop-off location and the cost of disposing of your vacuum tubes.
How do you test old radio tubes?
Plug the tube into an electrical device to check its glow. Turn on the machine to activate the tubes, and look for an orange, red, or purple glow. If the heated filament inside the tube glows orange like a setting sun, it’s usually a sign that the tube is healthy.
Are vacuum tubes expensive?
When it comes to cost, preamp tubes cost roughly $30 a pop, and, depending on the amp and wattage, can have up to four installed. On the other hand, power vacuum tubes are more expensive, costing roughly $60 each. A valve amp again can have up to four of them installed if it is a high wattage amp.
How do you know if a vacuum tube is bad?
Crackling, squeals and feedback, excessive noise and muddiness or low output are all evidence of tube problems. Power tubes. The two main symptoms of a power tube problem are a blown fuse or a tube that begins to glow cherry red. Either are typically indicative of a power tube failure.